MCMC terminated 70,122 prepaid SIM cards in 2025 for suspected misuse, a tenfold increase from 2024, as new registration rules are enforced.
KULAI: A total of 70,122 prepaid SIM card lines suspected of being misused to send suspicious messages were terminated in 2025. This marks an almost tenfold increase from the 7,409 lines terminated in 2024.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the surge shows abuse of prepaid lines remains rampant. She stated this demonstrates the need for stricter regulation.
“When we find more lines being misused, the government, through MCMC, has updated the guidelines for purchasing and registering prepaid SIM cards,” she said. Teo was speaking at the Safe Internet Campaign programme at the Temenggong Kulai Ramadan Bazaar.
New measures include limiting foreign tourists to two prepaid cards per telco, down from five. All tourist-registered prepaid lines will also be terminated automatically after three months.
Teo said this is to minimise the risk of misuse for fraud. Registration now requires original identification documents alongside MyDigital ID or biometric verification.
She pointed out this will curb the practice of dealers using photocopied documents to register cards without the owner present. Teo cautioned that enforcement action will be taken against any telco or dealer failing to comply with the guidelines.
